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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

Thyroid Cancer

66 replies

winkywinkola · 31/03/2017 20:40

So I went for a scan today as I'd been advised my thyroid is swollen.

The doctor who scanned me said he wanted to do a fine needle aspiration immediately.

He said there were soft markers that tally with thyroid cancer. It might not be of course but he said that on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being cancer, I'm a 3 or a 4. The test results will obviously confirm.

He's a very experienced doctor. He's being kind, isn't he? Telling me as far as he's concerned it's cancer?

I have to wait a week for test results.

OP posts:

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winkywinkola · 31/03/2017 21:27

Bump

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Crumbs1 · 31/03/2017 21:29

Scary to be told but did they tell you thyroid cancer is 97% curable particularly in young?

DoItTooJulia · 31/03/2017 21:30

Did they do a calcitonin blood test?

daisydalrymple · 31/03/2017 21:33

He's preparing you for the possibility yes. He hasn't said for definite you're a 5 however, so there's as yet, no guarantee it is.

I hope you can manage to get through the week of waiting without too much stress. Very best wishes for you

winkywinkola · 31/03/2017 22:01

I'm 45. I'm not young.

All I care about it how my children will manage. I've had four 🍷large wines tonight so am a bit sloshed.

I am feeling pissed off with my GP who told me I should take anti anxiety medication because I complained of difficulty swallowing.

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winkywinkola · 31/03/2017 22:02

DoittooJulia, the GP did a blood test which showed no markers for cancer but apparently the blood test doesn't show up markers for cancer in something like the thyroid.

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Spam88 · 31/03/2017 22:10

Fingers crossed for you OP, but as crumbs said, the cure rate for thyroid cancer is really good :) and 45 is young!

Crumbs1 · 31/03/2017 22:20

45 is very young - wait a decade before deciding you are old! Horrid news but you'll see your children grow up, get married and have children of their own. Treatment may be unpleasant but you come out the other side.

DoItTooJulia · 31/03/2017 22:25

Hi winky I posted in a rush earlier.

I'm sorry you're going through all this. I have a relative with thyroid cancer, but they have medullary thyroid cancer as well as papillary (the very curable one).

The calcitonin test is quite specialist and can only be drawn at a hospital because it needs special handling. Only medullary produces calcitonin. I only ask because we wish we'd have known as early as possible about this test-even if it was just to rule it out.

Happy to have a PM convo with you or carry on discussing here. I'm not medical, just had a steep education in a lot of thyroid stuff.

Fingers crossed that actually the odds are in your favour.

Crumbs1 · 31/03/2017 22:46

The aggressive type of thyroid cancer is aplastic but that affects people over 65 years.

ButterflyFree · 31/03/2017 22:53

Sorry to hear you're going through this @winkywinkola - I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer via FNA biopsy a year and a half ago, aged 24, and was given the all-clear after a thyroidectomy. I now have to live with & treat permanent hypothyroidism though of course.

I've written about my diagnosis, surgery & post-op experiences at http://butterflyyfree.blogspot.ae if you're interested to read more from a friendly (i.e. not all medical jargon..!) perspective, and if you have any questions you'd like to ask me at all please feel free either here or by PM. Wishing you all the best

winkywinkola · 31/03/2017 23:08

Butterfly, aged 24?? Gosh. I will read your blog.

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winkywinkola · 31/03/2017 23:10

DoittooJulia, so medullary cancer is a possibility too? I should insist on tests for that whatever other cancer I am diagnosed with?

I wonder how many other people have been dismissed by my GP.

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winkywinkola · 31/03/2017 23:10

Thank you all so much for your supportive posts. So kind. Thank you.

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passthewineplz · 31/03/2017 23:30

Sorry you're going through this OP.

Can I ask what your symptoms are please?

I've got health anxiety after having a different form of 'c' a few years ago, and googling has sent me over the edge....

I've had virus symptoms for about 4 weeks, the thing that is bothering me most though is I've had a painful throat on one side that spasms when I talk, (it feels like it's the back of my tonsils) and it's spasaming so much that I'm having to hold my neck when I speak.

My voice is horse, and I also have a cough (I get a lot of horse throats, and coughs but this spasm pain is awful and something new).

I've been to my GP 3 times.... and have been given antibiotics, as my throat looked red and the pain was awful.

I'm on Day 3 of the anti b's and it feels a bit better, but the spasams are more frequent.

I can't feel any lumps in my neck, but I'm also feeling exhausted, have a horse voice, cough and think I've got reflux.

Are you having any other symptoms?

Blinkyblink · 31/03/2017 23:37

Op, I'm sorry you're going through this. Sounds like there is a lot of hope though.

Passthewine, with respect, o don't think you should have turned this thread into you. The OP is in the eye of the storm atm, waiting for results, let her focus on herself.

passthewineplz · 31/03/2017 23:47

Blinkyblink sorry you feel that way, I was simply asking for advice. From my own experince of having cancer previously, I was initally fobbed off like OP has been and it took some time to get finally diagnosed.

OP, please ignore my questions. I hope that you get some answers soon, try and take one day at a time.

winkywinkola · 31/03/2017 23:52

Pass the wine, my only symptoms are difficulty swallowing and a visibly swollen band on my throat (it looks like when a worm has a band around it). Nothing else.
I think you should keep pushing for further investigation. Hoarse voice is apparently a cause for concern.

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antimatter · 31/03/2017 23:57

My SIL had thyroid cancer 15 years ago,
She had all clear few years later and is working in the same, a very stressful, job with long hours as before her diagnosis.
I am sure you will be all right after the treatment as this cancer has the best diagnosis and survival rate of all cancers.
Hang on there. It is very stressful not to know your diagnosis but even if you are going to go for treatment you will be all right.

Neolara · 01/04/2017 00:00

My cousin had thyroid cancer.. Ten years on and she is as fit and healthy as anything. Good luck.

passthewineplz · 01/04/2017 00:03

Thanks winky I'll make another appointment next week.

Is it a week today that you get your results?

Sunshineandlaughter · 01/04/2017 04:26

Gps love to tell people their symptoms are anxiety rather than anything else - put in a complaint - I did because i thought they should learn what they had missed so it didn't happen to the next person.

Sorry to hear your news.

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Hulder · 01/04/2017 04:47

Just to say 45 in medical terms is very definitely young.

It's very unusual for thyroid cancer not to be curable.

DoItTooJulia · 01/04/2017 08:27

Morning.

There are 4 types of thyroid cancer.

Papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic. My mum, rather unusually has two types.

But medullary and anaplastic are very rare. It's good to get the blood test because it so simple-and helps shape treatment plans early.

Does anyone in your family have a history of thyroid cancer?

winkywinkola · 01/04/2017 10:17

Yes. My mum in her seventies. Had the whole thing removed.

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